Glenwood City golfers finish second in conference
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DURAND — As it had done in seven previous conference meets and for the fourth consecutive time, the Glenwood City golf team finished second in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference tournament held under warm and sunny skies last Tuesday, May 25 at Rolling Greens Golf Course in Durand.
Heading into the 18-hole meet that marked the end of the 2021 regular season and featured five schools (the Hilltoppers along with host Durand, Colfax/Elk Mound, Mondovi, and Spring Valley/Elmwood), Glenwood City had already secured the runner-up spot in this year’s championship chase but outcome only solidified its hold on second place.
The Hilltoppers, lead by three top-ten finishers, tallied a score of 401 strokes to finish ahead of Colfax/Elk Mound (418) and Mondovi (441). Durand, who had already won this year’s conference crown, came in first once more with a low score of 333 as its top four varsity golfers claimed finished first through fourth. Spring Valley/Elmwood did not receive a team score as it had only three competitors.
In the final team standings, Durand finished with 55 points, Glenwood City had 42. Colfax/Elk Mound placed third with 30 and Mondovi was fourth at 27.
The Glenwood City trio of; junior Owen Swenby and sophomores Ian Radintz and Gabe Knops topped the squad’s conference tournament performances with each shooting in the 90s to finish in the top ten on the individual leader board.
Radintz finished the day with a Glenwood City best of 91 to take fifth overall. He shot a 47 on the front nine and then took off three strokes on the back nine to tally a 44.
Swenby and Knops shot respective scores of 95 and 97, good for eighth and ninth place. Swenby turned in a 47 on the first nine holes and then shot a 48 on the final nine while Knops had a 48 over the first nine and a 49 on the back nine.
All three earned all-conference honors. Radintz was the fifth and final member of the first team crew while Swenby and Knops finished seventh and tenth in the final individual standings to grab second team all-conference awards.
Freshman Ben Wittmer completed the scoring for the Hilltoppers with a 118 – 57 for the front nine and a 61 on the last half.
Another freshman, Jared Hager, was the final member of GC’s varsity five in Durand. He signed off out with a 136 after swinging for a pair of 68s.
Durand also dominated the individual awards as the Panthers landed all five of its varsity golfers on the all-conference list including four first-teamers headlined by the 2021 player of the year Dawson Kurth. Kurth was the low scorer in six of the meets this season and was third overall last Tuesday on his home course with an 83. His teammates, Charlie Brenner and Simon Bauer, shared medalist honors with scores of 82. Brenner and Bauer were second and third, respectively, on the final individual leader board.
With the regular season behind them, the Hilltopper golfers entered WIAA tournament play yesterday, June 1. Glenwood City played in the Division 3 Clear Lake Regional which was held at the Amery Golf Course. The first four teams and top four individuals who were not members of a qualifying team will advance to the Luck/Frederic Sectional meet to be held next Wednesday, June 9 at the Frederic Golf Course.
The State tournament will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 14 and 15 at Trappers Turn in Wisconsin Dells.